All motor vehicle accidents are dangerous, but accidents involving large trucks or buses can be especially dangerous due to their massive sizes. For instance, the average weight of a transit bus can range from 20,000 to 44,000 pounds, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
Because buses weigh so much, they can cause massive wrecks with significant damages. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 4,889 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes in 2017.
If you were involved in a bus accident caused by someone else’s negligence or carelessness, you should not be left to cover expenses on your own. At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, an Abbeville bus accident lawyer can protect your rights and fight for you to get compensation for your losses related to the accident.
If you want legal assistance with seeking damages from an Abbeville bus accident, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can guide throughout the claims process and help determine how much compensation you may be entitled to collect. Our law firm can assess which economic and noneconomic damages you may be entitled to recover, along with potential wrongful death damages if your loved one lost their life.
If you are looking to collect recoverable damages from a bus accident in Abbeville, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 to begin a free consultation.
We Can Help You Identify Recoverable Damages for Your Case
Your damages can be both economic and noneconomic following a bus accident. If there is a monetary value attached to your losses, such as with medical bills, those losses would be considered economic damages. However, losses that do not hold a monetary value attached to them, such as experiencing pain and suffering after an accident, can still be added to your settlement based on evidence that proves they exist.
Common economic and noneconomic damages include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Emergency transportation
- Rehabilitation
- Property damages
- Replacement of damaged property
- Lost wages
- Limited earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
An Abbeville bus accident lawyer can also help you determine damages for your family if a loved one was killed in a bus accident. Compensation awarded to your family during a wrongful death lawsuit may be able to cover funeral costs, cremation services, and additional economic damages. Your noneconomic damages may include loss of consortium, loss of companionship, and loss of parental guidance.
After reviewing your damages and obtaining evidence to support your claims, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can then calculate an estimate for compensation for your claim. To do so, our firm will monetize your damages and combine their values. This figure is meant to reflect your total losses.
From here, our team can use this figure during out-of-court negotiations with the insurance company overseeing your claim. This figure may also be considered during a potential personal injury lawsuit for your bus accident.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientYour Percentage of Fault Determines Your Compensation From a Bus Accident
To determine how much compensation you may be awarded from a bus accident, you must also consider your personal involvement in the accident. This is because Louisiana is a comparative fault state, as outlined under Louisiana Civil Code § 2323.
Under this statute, your percentage of fault in causing the accident, if applicable, will determine how much compensation you may be awarded. Thus, if a court determines that you were 10 percent at fault, you would be awarded 90 percent of the judgment award.
Our team can also help you determine which party should be held liable for your bus accident. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), the person who is found negligent may be held as the liable party for an accident that resulted in injuries and damages. Your lawyer can build a case that shows how the other party’s negligence led to your personal damages.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientFile a Personal Injury Lawsuit Before the Statutory Deadline
If we are unable to reach a settlement out of court, we may still be able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. To do so, we must ensure that your lawsuit gets filed within the statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
The statute of limitations is the legal timeframe a claimant has to file a lawsuit after the date of their underlying accident or injury. According to the Louisiana Civil Code § 3492, the statutory deadline for personal injury claims is within one year of an accident.
The statute also lists exceptions to this one-year time limit, stating the liberative prescription “does not run against minors or interdicts in actions involving permanent disability and brought pursuant to the Louisiana Products Liability Act or state law governing product liability actions in effect at the time of the injury or damage.”
If you do not file a lawsuit within the one-year prescription, there is a chance that your case may get dismissed by the judge. You avoid this by acting quickly after your bus accident by beginning the legal process to pursue compensation for your damages.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientLaborde Earles Injury Lawyers Can Help You Fight for Compensation
Our law firm can manage your Abbeville bus accident case from your initial consultation until we settle your case out of court or in a trial.
If you decide to work with an Abbeville bus accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, our team may:
- Identify a liable party behind your accident
- Manage all communications and negotiations with the opposing insurance company
- Review your damages and prove their existence
- Determine fair compensation for your claim
- Gather evidence related to your accident
The sooner you act, the sooner our team can get started building your case. Our law firm will preserve your rights and pursue compensation on your behalf so that you can focus on getting your life back on track. To learn more, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777.
